Vintages Release: December 10, 2016

  
Featherstone ‘Joy’ Sparkling Wine 2012
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $34.95 (310334) 12.6% alcohol
This is a stunning example of what meticulous winemaking technique does to showcase excellent fruit from a top vintage. This would score well in a flight of world-class sparkling wine. Persistent fine-bead bubbles form an admirable mousse infused with lively aromas of citrus and mineral notes along with hints of baking bread and orange blossom. A refreshing attack of lime and zesty lemon interweaves with ripe pit fruit on the palate persisting through the lengthy aftertaste—clean and refreshing, balanced and beautiful. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: December, 2016

  
Featherstone ‘Canadian Oak’ Chardonnay 2014
VQA Niagara Peninsula $18.95 (149302) 12.0% alcohol
Hard to be more ‘local’—the owners, grapes and oak for the barrels. There’s oodles of baking spice, sweet vanilla and caramel on the nose of this medium-bodied, nicely textured Chard. It bathes the palate with piquant apple pie spice, notions of oak and tangy citrus—Myer lemon, Key lime and grapefruit melding well with green apple on the long finish. Lovely poured now, will knit together and even improve with six more months in bottle. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: TBA 2016

  
Toi Toi Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Marlborough, South Island $17.95 13.0% alcohol
Toi Toi is a native New Zealand grass. Citrus and tropical fruit are undercut with gooseberry, sweet hay and orchard blossom on the nose. Barley off-dry with balanced acidity, it offers a long, racy finish with flavours of zesty lemon, white peach and passion fruit. Serve with an asparagus quiche. (Lisa Isabelle)